canfield



(No Model.)l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

BUSTLE.

No. 372,116. 92116111611 oct. 25, 1887.

1111111121 mu 6111011.15. l

(No Mcrndel.)4 2 Sheets-She'et 2.

' H. O. CANFIELD.

I BUSTLE.

Patented Oct. 25

illli IHN wl'llll HENRY O. CANFIELD, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT,ASSIGNOR TO THE 1 CANFIELD RUBBER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BUSTLE..

PECIFI-CATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 372,116, dated October25, 1887.

1 Application liled August 5, 188,7. Serial No2/16,210. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY O. CANFIELD, of Bridgeport, in the countyofFairtield and State of Connecticut, have invented certainnewand usefulImprovements in Bustles; and I do hereby declare the following tobeafull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to improvements in bustles for womenls wear, andmore particularly to a style of bustle-that is rendered collapsible tofacilitate its wear and allow it to fold together when the wearerassumes a sit ting or reclining` position.

My invention has4 for its object to improve the construction of bustlesthat are adapted to be folded automatically and render them morecomfortable to the wearer by a novel provision, that will be more fullydescribed, and pointe out in the claims.

A further object is to so protect the -upper lends of the uprightbody-strips of the bustle that these portions will not have injuriousabrasive action upon other garments of the wearer.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation ofa bustle, showing my improved body-strip; Fig. 2, a view of one of thebody-strips with the fibrous` covering broken away to expose the elasticmaterial below it. Fig.3 is a side 'elevation ofthe bustle.

A A indicate a pair of body-strips, which are enveloped in casings ofbrous material,]3, as usual, and the latter are furnished with lateralflaps or borders cc, the inner portions of which are provided witheyelets to receive alacing-cord, b. The outerllaps, a', of theseenvelopes are not essential, but are preferred, as they secure a closeriit of the bustle and contribute a more ornamental appearance thereto.

The body-strips A are made of compound substances, thelower portions,A', being made of the usual iiat spring metal, while the'upperport-ions, A2, are constructed of vulcanized india-rubber or similarilexible and yielding substance. The metallic portions of these strips Aextend about three-fourths the height of the bustle, at which point therubber end pieces or tips, A2, are made'fto extend over the ends of saidmetallic portions, and are secured thereto by riveting or in any otherpreferred manner, as shown in Fig. 2.

The envelope B, which covers the metallic portions of the strips A, isextended upward and made to cover or encircle the vrubber tips A2, sothat the joint or meeting-point of the portions A A2 will be protectedby the fibrous material, and thus prevent the protruding corners of saidportions from catching in the clothing of the wearer.A

The rubber end pieces or tips, A2, are of sufiicient iexibility thatwhen the bustle is applied to the wearer they will readily adaptthemselves to the conformity of the body and.

secure a tight and comfortable iit without the slightest inconvenience,and avoid the disadvantages frequently experienced in the use ofbody-strips made entirely of metal, from the fact that such metallicstrips are liable to punch the wearer in the act of sitting; and theyare further objectionable as being very apt, after a short use, to breakthrough the fibrous covering and injure the clothing adjacent to thebustle. y

It will of course be understood that the rubber en'd pieces or tips,while possessing the llexibility above described,will be of sucientrigidity to maintain their normal upright position when not in use,which position they are assisted in maintaining by theirpermanentattachment at their upper ends to the waist band C.

If preferred, the bodystrips A may be made of flexible materialthroughout their entire length; but I prefer the construction justdescribed, as it gives more firmness to the structure, and yetaccomplishes the object sought.

At suitable points throughout Athe lengthf the metallic portions of thebody-strips are secured a series of straps, e, which extend laterallyfrom the body-strips and encircle eyelet-bars E, to which they aresecured, thus forming a hinged and flexible connection between the bodyportions and the e'lelet-bars E.

The eyelet-bars Eform supports for a series of bows or spring-reeds, F,which are attached thereto at their respective end s and adapted tovibrate vertically when the bustle is col- IOO lapsed. The upper bows orreeds, F', are disposed at an angle to the lower ones, in order to givethe proper curvature to the bustle, as will be readily understood.

A flexible strap, G, is secured to the waistband at or about the centerof the latter, and extended down over the bows to the bottom of thebustle, and secured thereto for the purpose of maintaining said bows inproper relative position.

The three lower bows, F, are loosely connected together by means of ashort bar or strip, lz, which runs parallel with the strap G on theunder side thereof, and is loosely connected to the irst and third bowsfrom the bottom by means of cords passing through eyelets formed in saidbows and the bar or strip h, as will be readily understood.

rIhe bar 71., by its connection as above stated, allows the three lowerbows to be vibrated together against the action of spiral springs H,which are attached one at each side ot' the bustle. One end of eachspring is connected to eyelets i, secured to the eyelet-bars E neartheir lower ends, while the other ends of the springs are attached tosimilar eyelets, i', secured tothe upper one ofthe connected series ofbows. By this construction it will be seen that when the bustle iscollapsed these lower bows will always be kept equidistant apart, andwhen the pressure is removed the springs H will draw the lower bows totheir normal position together, they being held separated from eachother by the bar h.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a bustle, the combination, with the exible body-strips, of themore flexible end portions composed of vulcanized india-rubber securedto their upper ends, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bustle, the combination, with pivoted spring-bows and awaistband, of bodystrips and rubber end pieces, secured at one end tothe upper extremities of the body-V strips and at the other end to thewaistband,

substantially as shown and described.

3. In a bustle, the combination, with bodystrips, each of which iscomposed of two llexiblc sections, the upper sections of both stripsbeing more ilexible than the lower sections, of spring-bows secured tothe body-strips, substantially as set forth.

In testimonywhereofIhavcsigncd thisspecilieation in the presence ot' twosubscribing witnesses.

HENRY O. CANFIELD.

Vitncsscs:

S. B. LEWIS, C. H. HoDGEs.

